>> al: bob, tony and mike will wrap up the game and cris and i will take a look ahead. a great rivalry, we've done so mf of many of those games through the years. >> cris: giants almost knocked off the undefeated packers today. >> al: sproles will take the ball up to the 29 yard line. they cannot stop the clock. matthew stafford, big night statistically. 30 of 42. should be good enough to win a

lot of games. but when your team is penalized 108 yards and so many of those penalties were ridiculous on one hand and costly on the other. you talk about the ndamukong suh penalty and subsequent suspension. not only did that happen, but it happened at a time in the game when it would have been a fourth down, green bay would have kicked a field goal. instead first and goal, went in for a touchdown and made it 14-0. see you around. >> cris: it's just so hard to win one game in the nfl, but when you give away back to back games during a playoff run over silly things like that, there's just no reason. everybody who plays the game now, they watch games on television, they fully understand what the rules are. and you just can't let your emotions get away from you.

i know it's been tough. jim schwartz watching it. but he has no choice now. i mean, this has to be hammered home. you would have thought it was hammered home a week ago. i'm sure they talked about it during the course of the week. but to let it happen again, jim schwartz and this coaching staff, they have to take a little different tact. i've seen some coaches that will cut guys over that to make a point that that will not happen again. the first down will end it. leaning is ingram. doesn't appear to have it. this would give the ball to detroit on downs. also probably put some more time back on the clock. they're going to measure here. they're going to say first down. for

a few seconds ticked off. they want to measure here. and if they didn't get it, they'll put five or six seconds back on the clock. so they will bring in the chains. stafford tonight, one touchdown, one interception and 17 points on the board. and a lot of third and 15s because of silly plays. vanden bosch, pretty much

neutralized by that protection scheme. >> cris: they lost to good teams at home but they did lose at home. san francisco, atlanta, green bay. they've had good teams on the road. at tampa, at denver. >> they put five seconds back on the clock. maurice morris at the 31 yard line. >> i think the good news for the lieons is matthew stafford's hand apeas to be well. he was messing around with it a lot before the game just trying to get it loose. but the way the ball came out of his happened in this game looked almost completely different than what it was a week and a half ago on thanksgiving.

from the 41 on first down. the lions lost tonight and will clinch the nfc north title for the undpeeted green bay packers. >> cris: packers clearly got a scare in that game today. it was eli manning who came all the way back to tie the game with a two-point conversion late. then aaron rodgers and company as they've done all season long answered again. drives the length of the skill in less than a minute. kicked the game-winning field goal at the buzzer. >> al: second and ten. stafford down at the 34. one thing about jim schwartz, he was a young kid when bill

belichick brought him in. got a shot from jeff fisher. there's brandon fisher, he's jeff fisher's son. long-time head coach of the titans. i would expect jeff would be back at some point as head coach again. this kid is really, really good. that's going to take the lions back home. and the saints to a mark of the 9-3. and that's even more room between the saints and the falcons. who lost today. as the falcons trail by two. the saints have already won head to head. 31-17 with the post game report from wendys coming up next.

>> bob: drew brees is 26-36, 342 yards, three touchdowns. didn't throw a pick. he's now thrown at least one touchdown pass in 39 consecutive games. johnny uuunitas' record is 47. michele? >> michele: bob, thank you. jimmy, early fourth quarter, you needed to put space between you and the lions on the scoring drive.

drew brees found you four times. why were you cooking at that time. >> we were talking about one drive, just one play at a time. he just makes me look good. >> you have the most receiving yards by a tight end since 1970. how have you had success so quickly? >> you know, it's really my teammates and my coaches. you know, the confidence that drew has is amazing. he tells me sometimes, i don't care if there's two guy ops you, i'm going to throw the ball where only you can catch it. when your quarterback has confidence if you like that, it just raises you to a new level. >> he's such a stud.

a raw, young talent was a guy who's figuring it out quickly. i think the thing i like about him most is his heart and desire. he understands each day is about getting better and ongoing skill development. he's a big-time player who i have a top of confidence in. >> the detroit defense is a bit depleted tonight. now ndamukong suh. how were you able to capitalize on that? >> they're still a great defense. i feel like our guys up front dpid a great job. >> >> michele: i know you don't like to talk about individual number. you are on a record-setting pace. in 20088, you came up 15 yards short of dan marino's single season passing record. what would it mean to you to get it this year? >> it's all about winning. if we can get the record while winning, so be it. if not, that's all right, too.

all our hopes and dreams and aspirations go beyond setting records. it's all about winning and getting to the big dance. >> michele: congratulations, drew, thanks. >> bob: so with the saints win over the lie yo i don't knows, the playoff picture looks like this. the packers have clinched the afc north. the 49ers have won the west. the first division title since 2002. the nfc wild card contenders all lost today. we bring in tony dungy. the falcons lions and bears all have their issues. which do you think will survive and make it into the postseason? >> tony: i still like the lions for a couple of reasons. they have a schedule that sets up nicely. they have winnable games coming up and they have a lot of young talent. but the thing you don't like right now is their maturity. they're going to have to curb their emotion and play with a little maturity in a playoff stretch in december. you can't just play with talent.

their coaching staff has to get that under control. >> let's look now at the afc playoff victory. tim tebow's broncos take over first place in the afc west, based on anl edge over the raiders in tie braerks. the bengals loss to the steelers boost the chances of the other wild card contenders for that final spot, including the titans and the jets. tonying whichey tony, which of those five-loss teams has the best shot? ? they've got three home games and a game at st. louis. i love andy dalton and a.j. green. these young receivers with dalton can make some plays. and i think with the three home games, they make some hay and get themselves in the playoffs. >> bob: all right, tony, thanks.

mike florio will have more on nbc sports talk. mike, a number of big-name players suffered injuries today. run them down for us, please. >> mike: the bears playoff chances took a hit with what is believed to be a partially torn mvl suffered by star running back matt forte. more testing to come, but it's likely he's going to miss a couple of weeks with that knee jury injury. andre johnson missed a couple of games. today he suffered an injury to his left hamstring. he told reporters after the game he'll be fine. he'll have an mri tomorrow. patrick willis, another hamstring injury, another mri on monday, but he also believes that he'll be fine. and finally for the packers, cornerback charles woodson has a concussion and once that diagnosis is applied, until an independent neurologist clears woodson, he won't be able to practice or play. >> al: thanks a lot. we take you inside the pivotal

plays including aaron rodgers' last-minute game winning drive against the lions. al and cris are back to wrap things up. dig in, baby. it's the w, new from wendy's. double beef, double cheese... our best toppings and signature sauce on a buttered, toasted bun. try it now for just $2.99. the w. only at wendy's. i joined the navy when i was nineteen. i spent four years in the military and i served a tour in iraq. all the skills that i learned in the military are very transferable into the corporate and real world. chase hired me to be a personal banker. the 100,000 jobs mission has definitely helped me get my foot in the door. chase is giving opportunities to vets who don't think that there's any

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on your wish list at the winter event going on now. but hurry -- the offer ends january 3rd. [ santa ] ho, ho, ho! >> al: we take a look at the giants and the cowboys. giants reeling, the cowboys lose to arizona today. the giants gate big break and away we go to arlington next sunday night. >> cris: two games in the remaining four for these two football teams. and that's probably going to end

up deciding it. it's nice the way the nfl has set up the schedule this year with all the divisional games at the end. let it come down to what happens on the field and we'll see. but for the cowboys today, really disappointing loss for the giants. i thought they played their guts out. i thought they had a good chance to beat the packers. >> al: game tied near the end. aaron rodgers led green bay to a field goal. giants have two games with dallas, they have one game with washington and then a road game in a matter of speaking against the jets. it's in their stadium so at least they control their own fate. >> cris: that's going to be a great one, too. it looks like both of those teams are probably going to have to win that one or go away. >> al: see you deep in the heart of next week. in new orleans tonight, penalties do in detroit. 31-17, the final score. until next week, for our entire

crew, al michaels, cris collingsworth, michele tafoya. good night from new orleans.

drexel live, local, late breaking, this is wbal news tonight. good news. or witnesses are expected to take the stand tomorrow in the trial against the key adviser to

the former governor. the adviser is charged with using illegal rabat calls. we have more. [captioning made possible by constellation energy group] captioned by the national captioning institute --www.ncicap.org-- >> the defense plans to call two more witnesses to the stand. as the trial enters its last day, they want to make sure the jury hears testimony from two more people. >> we have two more people of troubled a distance to be here. they should have the opportunity to give testimony. >> one of those witnesses participated in the race. the state has not met its burden of proof. the key adviser has been charged with conspiracy and election fraud. he is accused of operas in a rowboat call to persuade african american voters to stay home -- accused of operating a robocall

to persuade african american voters to stay home. >> there is no proof of misconduct. >> they do not see the testimony will last long -- they do not think the testimony will last long. you can follow the trial on our web site, wbaltv.com, just click on local news. iran pose a military says it had shot down a u.s. drone aircraft. the unmanned plane was brought down in eastern iran. they say the brown violated air space. the country is in a dispute with the u.s. and allies. u.s. officials have not confirmed this report. this comes a day of the 25 diplomats arrived back home after the war kicked out of britain. officials expelled diplomats -- after they were kicked out of

britain. officials expelled diplomats after students in iran charged two embassies. the minister has expressed regret. a celebration for local national guard service members. maryland national guard and men were honored for their service to state and country during a recognition ceremony at the warfield base in middle river. five m received top award. the ceremony is also a time for reflection on what they have accomplished over the past year. >> the tonko has not slowed down. i know there are more challenges next year. it is time for us to celebrate the work that has been accomplished as we look forward to next year. >> they hope the ceremony will inspire service members to continue excellent in 2012. -- excellence in 2012.

now that herman cain pose a presidential campaign has collapsed, when his support? the iowa -- who will win his support. there is a fight on to win his support and supporters. >> herman cain will not be the next president. he may have an opportunity. >> i am not going to be silent. i am not going away. >> the former presidential hopeful says he will be endorsing one of his rivals in coming days. with the caucuses are less than a month away, the battle for his supporters is heating up. >> herman cain is an outsider. they see that my voice will be the one most reflective of his. >> politico reports that caine is leaning toward newt gingrich. caine supporters are also. gingrich already had a strong

lead in iowa, 26%, well ahead of mitt romney. as in which that is up to 20% with herman cain out of the picture. all he is out, he still wants to be a voice. >> he might have a big impact. you have to have the money and the campaign and the ability to get your voice up. >> -- out. >> his followers are already reshaping the election. >> the latest polls show romney is losing some support but still holding on to lead in new hampshire. there is continuing commitment on our web site. you can delegate candidates and keep track of who is leading the pack. you can find it on the politics page at wbaltv.com. certification operation will continue for a man missing since friday. 35-year-old charles duckett this

appeared at a reservoir. he is a maintenance worker, the sanitary commission. two people are recovering after a shooting in southwest baltimore. investigators a 27-year old and another person were sitting in a car around 11:0015 when the gunman opened fire. they were taken to the hospital with non-life and injuries. there is no word on their condition. -- non life-threatening injuries. there is no word on their condition. a pregnant woman remains in critical condition. the 24-year-old was ejected bum a vehicle -- from a vehicle during an accident. two others were also hurt. the free ride is over for commuters taking the new inter- county connector. beginning tomorrow, drivers will have to pay. toll roads will be based of ak

and nonpeak hours. to head -- to calculate your poll had to upset wbaltv.com -- toll head to our website wbaltv.com. postal officials will announce a $3 billion plan for reductions. the cuts could eliminate the chance for stamp letters to write the next day. all part of an effort to cut costs. >> because people are using computers, the money coming in is low. the employee level is high. >> is it possible solutions include a compassionate plan for 130,000 workers to retire. the postmaster general says the agency has lost $8 million this year. it is a great day.

>> before we get to that, we will be talking about the maryland men pose a basketball team. down in d.c., they played well. >> the what weather in ohio is moving in our direction. it plays a role in our seven-day forecast. it is 40 degrees at the airport.